Wire stretcher



own 7, 1939.

B. w. STEWART 2.179.438

WIRE STRETCHER Filed June 2, 1939 E. W 525 War! Patented Nov. 7, 1939 EDSTA E EES WIRE STRETCHER 2 Claims.

This invention relates to wire stretchers; and more particularly, to animproved wire stretcher having fewer parts, and being more readilyadapted for use in connection with various types of 5 fencingconstructions.

One object of this invention is to provide a wire stretcher which may beused for installing line wire.

Another object is to provide an improved wire stretcher which may beused in connection with the construction of woven wire fencing.

A further object is to provide a wire stretcher which may beinterchangeably used in connection with the construction of either linewire or woven fencing.

Yet another object is to provide a wire stretcher which is adjustable.

,Still another object is to provide a wire stretcher which is adaptedfor transversely stretching wire fencing, which has previously beensecured at both of its ends.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be determined fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing.

In the drawing, wherein like reference charactors indicate correspondingparts in the various figures:

Figure 1 is a partial perspective illustrating the use of the wirestretcher in connection with the construction of a woven wire fence;

Figure 2 shows its adaptation to use in securing the sides of a wovenfence, which has previously been secured at its ends;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lever element of the wirestretcher;

Figure 4. is a perspective of the hook element;

Figure 5 is a partial perspective showing the use of the device inconnection with a wire line.

Considering the drawing in greater detail, the device comprises a lever59, which has been cut off to reduce the relative length in the figures.This lever comprises a handle portion l2, a bifurcated grip l4, and acentral portion H5, having a passage l8 extending therethrough. Abearing rod 20 extends through the passage and provides a fulcrum orinterconnection for the hook 22.

A reversible hook member is arranged with an elongated portion 24,having a plurality of hooks 26, 28, 30 and 32, arranged to adjustablyengage the bearing rod 20. This reversible hook member is arranged sothat it may be positioned to engage either side of the rod 2b, asclearly indi cated in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1, the adjustable hooksface toward the person operating the lever l0, whereas in Figure 2, thehooks face away from the operator of the device. The outer end of thereversible hook member has a bifurcated end 3 5, comprising two hookportions 36 and 38, with a slot 40 in between. This arrangement allowsthe hook to grip the strands of a wire fence 42, as in Figure 1, or theupper strand 4-4 5 of a fence, as in Figure 2.

The bifurcated hook allows the reversible hook to be used as shown inFigure 5, wherein a wire line fence at passes through the slotill aroundthe hook, and then through an aperture 48, 10 which extends through thehook. This aperture serves to receive the end 59 of the wire, giving afirm grip so that the wire cannot slip while the device is beingoperated.

In Figure l, a lever it) is engaged with the pole 15 52 and the wirefencing is being drawn to the pole for fastening thereon; After thefence is firmly secured to the pole, the stretcher may be released andthe reversible hook disengaged from the wire. In Figure 2 this device isillustrated as 20 being used for stretching a fence so that the upperstrand may be secured to a top rail 5 3. When the fence has beenstretched and secured with the rail 5d, the hook can be very easilydisengaged from the wire. 25

In Figure 5, after the line wire has been completely stretched andsecured, the end 50 can. be released from the hook and the hook removedfor further use elsewhere. The bifurcated end of the lever It] can beused to engage the lever with another wire fence where that may benecessary. However, in ordinary use, it will be used to grip a rail orpost as in Figures 1 or 2.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustratedand described, varia- 35 tions within the true spirit scope of the sameare to be determined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wire stretcher comprising a lever having an elongated hand gripportion, a bifurcated fulcrum end, and an apertured intermediateportion, a bearing means in said apertured portion, and a hook having abifurcated end hook and a series of book elements arranged to engageeither side of said bearing means, whereby said hook 45 may beadjustably secured to the lever and an aperture formed in saidbifurcated hook for engaging a line wire.

2. A wire stretcher comprising a lever having a passage therethrough, abearing rod extending through said passage, and a reversible hookarranged to adjustably extend through said passage and engage eitherside of said rod, said hook having a bifurcated end for gripping a fenceWire and an aperture extending transversely through said 55 bifurcatedhook portion.

BURRY WILLARD STEWART.

